Dealing With My Stuff

We all have our stuff.  The stuff in our lives is found in our closets, in our garage, in our attic, in our shed, in our car, in our desk drawers, on our bookshelves, and as many other places as we can find to stash our stuff.  What is this stuff and how should I deal with it? 

“Stuff” is my personal property—“a group or scattering of miscellaneous objects or articles” that I’ve collected over time.  Some “stuff” is seen as garbage (trash, rubbish, refuse) which is waste material that needs to be discarded since it is no longer used or needed.  What constitutes garbage is highly subjective, however, as observed by those who spend their Saturdays visiting yard sales.  “Your trash may be somebody else’s treasure.”

Now for me, my “stuff” is different from my garbage (trash, rubbish, and refuse).  Some of my stuff is junk, I know that, but from my perspective, junk still means my “belongings”  (stuff)—some old, some no longer used, some treasured, some taking up space, some holding memories, etc.  Junk is the stuff I should get rid of, but can’t seem to get in the mood to do.

Some of my “stuff” is “treasured” (just like some folk treasure money, jewels, or precious metals).  Something treasured is something of great worth or value to the person who treasures it.  My books are a collection, in my mind, of precious treasures—treasures to be hoarded, saved, preserved—and yet I wonder—will those books be a treasure for someone else?  I doubt it.  My problem is that I am a wealthy man—I treasure all my stuff!

My stuff:  garbage, trash, junk, or treasure? I don’t think I need to join “Clutterers Anonymous” (a 12-step recovery program for people with serious hoarding issues), but I do have to deal with my “stuff.”  It seems ridiculous to hold on to those VHS tapes—but, after all, I do still have the VHS player.  Why do I hold on to college and seminary papers—the subjects of which are obsolete now?  Cassette tapes,  old LP’s and even a few 45’s, used curtain rods, tools, you name it, I’ve probably got it among my stuff.  I guess I’ve got to face it—it is time to deal with my stuff.  Maybe I’ll just move stuff from one place to another and save myself the frustration of having to make weighty decisions.